A player in Austria has been suspended for 70 matches for headbutting a referee. It is one of the longest suspensions in the history of the sport, but hardly undeserved.
Player suspended 70 matches for headbutting a referee, claims he slipped
Laurence Griffiths
Ismail Gunduz of fifth division SK Rum (real team name that would explain a lot) was sent off in the 86th minute for a second yellow card. At that point, Gunduz turned to the referee and headbutted him, opening a cut on the referee’s lip. The bleeding proved to be so severe that the referee was taken to a hospital and the match was suspended.
But it wasn’t Gunduz’ fault! The player claimed that it was a “misunderstanding” and that he merely slipped into the referee’s face.
Sometimes you headbutt someone, and sometimes you just happen to slip forehead first into someones lip and bust it open. That is not the same as headbutting someone, because everyone knows that slips masquerading as headbutts are a really common thing.
SK Rum has already cut Gunduz and despite the severity of the suspension, the local federation said they have no doubt his ban will be held up after appeal. Seeing as Gunduz is not currently facing criminal charges, maybe he should considering himself lucky, drop his appeal and call it a day.
Unless he really did slip because that happens, apparently.
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